21st MP Company Soldiers head to Afghanistan to train police units
November 4, 2011
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - A departure ceremony was held Oct. 24, for Soldiers of the 21st Military Police Company who deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom while the rest of their company remains at Fort Bragg.
The military police deploy differently than most units. They typically deploy as separate companies rather than a whole battalion due to their garrison mission requirements. In this case, the 21st Military Police Company, 503rd Military Police Battalion, has received orders to deploy about 25 percent of its company. This group of Soldiers will be deployed without their commander or first sergeant.
The company received their mission only after many changes such as the number of Soldiers required by the mission and exact location of their duty.
According to Capt. Josephine Ladnier, 21st MP company commander, the deploying Soldiers will be split into four teams assigned to advise and train the Afghan National Civil Order Police in the Heart province.
"We can train them (Afghan Police) and eventually they will be able to take over," said Spc. Burt Lancaster, 21st MP Co. gunner and Elizabethtown, Pa. native.
The company has prepared the Soldiers for this deployment by conducting improvised explosive devices defeat lanes, convoy live fire exercises and Afghan cultural training.
"I've got the best NCOs and Soldiers going down range that I could possibly ask for," said 1st Lt. Jason Hollenbach, 3rd Platoon leader.
"I have full confidence of everyone I work with. At the end of the day, that's all I need," said the Columbus, Ohio native.